Families in Transition: ‘Breaking down barriers’ to focus on particular needs of women in recovery

By:CAROL ROBIDOUX

MANCHESTER, NH – On Feb. 21 Families in Transition’s celebrated the expansion of its substance use treatment center and new recovery housing for women with a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony at is future home on Wilson Street.

The $4 million Manchester Recovery and Treatment Center, at 293 Wilson St., will occupy the second and third floors of the former Hoitt Furniture building. Construction is expected to begin in March.

HOPE for NH Recovery moved from Central Street to the Wilson Street location back in November of 2016 and occupies the first floor, providing peer support and programs aimed at people in recovery from drug and alcohol misuse.

The expansion will allow the Family Willows Substance Use Treatment Center to double in size, providing treatment to 400 women per year as well as providing 22 units of recovery housing for an estimated 40 women, transportation to and from treatment to an estimated 160 women, and childcare to an estimated 160 children.

Several key people involved in making the project a reality – from elected officials to volunteers – were in attendance and a handful of them spoke briefly, including Dick Anagnost, of Anagnost Companies; Mayor Ted Gatsas; U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan; Governor Chris Sununu; NH State Senator Chuck Morse; NH State Sen. Dan Feltes; Dean Christon, of NH Housing; Arthur Sullivan, of Brady Sullivan Properties; and Maureen Beauregard, president and founder of of Families in Transition. A representative from U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s read a letter prepared by the Senator, who was unable to attend.

Gov. Chris Sununu made the trip down from Concord to reinforce the need for continued bi-partisan efforts to keep the resources growing.

“There’s virtually no one who isn’t affected in New Hampshire, unfortunately,” Sununu said.

He went on to say how the expansion project for Families In Transition was a shining example of putting “dollars behind ideas” toward a tangible solution to the substance misuse and abuse crisis the state is experiencing.